Hand-stamp.



No. 640,562. Patented Jan. 2, I900.

v B. B. HILL.

HAND STAMP.

(Application filegi Oct. 24, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN B. I-IILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAN D-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,562, dated January 2, 1 900.

' Application filed October 24, 1899. Serial No. 734,651. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. I-IILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and' useful Improvement in Hand- Stamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This improvement relates to that class of of a bridge which will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

Referring now to the details of the drawings' by numerals, 1 indicates the ordinary yoke, and 2 the knob orhandle, secured thereto in any convenient way. At 3 is shown a pin or spindle for the drums at, which carry the bands 2, all of which are of the ordinary form.

At the lower part of the stamp is a bridge 5, having a recess 6 to receive a cushion 7, preferably of sponge-rubber. This bridge,,as shown in the drawings, is preferably formed of sheet metal, having its side edges 8 bent downward to make a recess to receive the cushion 7 and then bent upward, as shown at 9, so as to form a smooth surface at the edges in order that the bands may pass over the bridge without rubbing against the sharp edges of the metal. The ends 10 are also first turned down and then turned up, so as to form a recess 11 to receive the lower ends of the yoke. The yoke is provided with projecting lugs 10 to keep the bridge from moving laterally, and the tension of the bands keeps it in place vertically. This construction will be found to be very convenient and a great improvement over the ordinary style of bridge. There is great difficulty in making the rubber bands all of the same thickness in the first place, and, moreover, as some are moved 5 5 and used more than others they wear faster and so become thinner, both of which causes poorprinting from the uneven impression due to the differing thicknesses of the bands. This is avoided by the use'of the sponge-rubher, the elasticity of which makes up for any deficiency in the thickness of the bands, so thatafairly good impression is produced even if the bands vary considerably in thickness. Besides this advantage the sponge-rubber cushion prevents the bands slipping should they become so loose as to slip out of place,

as they will do when the life or elasticity of the rubber bands is lost from age or from the action of the ink. Under these circum- 7o stances the bands are apt to slipover a metal surface, where they would not when in contact with rubber.

I am aware that it has been proposed to use spring-actuated bearing-surfaces for typebands in hand-stamps; but in such stamps the bearing-surfaces are of metal, and I therefore do not claim such, inasmuch as my invention is essentially different therefrom, as it consists of a bridge having its edges bent to form a recess and a cushion supported in said recess. So far as I am aware this is entirely new and is a decided improvement in the art.

What I claim as new is- In a hand-stamp, the combination with a yoke, the type-bands, and drums of a banddater, of a bridge having its edges bent to form a recess, and acushion supported in said recess, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 23d day of October, 1899. l

BENJAMIN B. l-IILL.

Witnesses:

THOS. E. ROBERTSON, ARTHUR E. DoWELL. 

